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With each trade 
agreement the 
United States 
signs, new market 
opportunities 
are created for 
U.S. producers. 
so 
Signing agreements is not the only reason 
for multilateral and bilateral meetings, how- 
ever. In May 2000, the United States and 
Japan cosponsored a meeting of the Asia— 
Pacific Economic Cooperation to discuss 
trade issues related to Asia and the Pacific 
region as well as alternative quarantine 
treatments and postharvest handling meth- 
ods. Representatives from nearly all of the 23 
key Asia-Pacific economies were in 
attendance. 
Trade Agreements 
With each trade agreement the United States 
signs, new market opportunities are created 
for U.S. producers. One of the most signifi- 
cant agreements signed in 2000 allows U.S. 
producers in four States to export citrus to 
China. The agreement was signed only after 
Chinese agricultural inspectors spent 
2 weeks touring U.S. groves with APHIS 
officials. China’s 1.3 billion people represent 
a huge potential market for U.S. citrus as 
well as other agricultural goods. In terms of 
financial gain, industry experts estimate that 
citrus exports to China could top $500 mil- 
lion annually once the market becomes 
established. 
While the Philippines represents a much 
smaller market, the United States also signed 
agreements with that country in 2000 to 
export grapefruit, oranges, and tangerines to 
the island nation. Some markets, however, 
start out small but then become very lucra- 
tive over time. For example, the United 
States continues to expand its agricultural 
exports to Taiwan, our fourth largest market. 
In 1999, the United States began exporting 
fresh asparagus and Alaskan carrots to 
Taiwan. Although the Taiwanese market for 
asparagus and Alaskan carrots is small, over- 
all the United States exports more than $1.8 
billion worth of agricultural products to 
Taiwan annually. 
4 Trade Negotiations and Compliance 
Citrus remains a popular export, and U.S. 
grain is also in great demand worldwide. 
Canada is a major importer of U.S. grain, and 
Colombia is a major importer of U.S. rice. 
APHIS’ goal is to increase trade opportuni- 
ties for U.S. producers in all regions of the 
world. While many new markets have opened 
in recent years, many more opportunities 
await, and it is the job of APHIS to resolve 
any technical health issues associated with 
the movement of agricultural commodities 
both into and from the United States. 
Technical Assistance 
At the same time the United States is work- 
ing to expand trade opportunities worldwide, 
APHIS also has strategic interests to make 
sure developing countries can learn from our 
agricultural health programs and successes. 
In March 1999, the World Trade Organization 
issued a report stressing the need for 
enhanced technical assistance and coopera- 
tion to developing countries, in particular 
with regard to human resource development, 
national capacity building, and the transfer 
of technology and information, especially 
through hands-on assistance. With regard to 
technical assistance, developing countries 
need help strengthening their plant and ani- 
mal protection infrastructures, avoiding dis- 
putes, updating legislation, and planning for 
emergency outbreak situations. 
APHIS has traveled to foreign countries, 
hosted foreign leaders, and participated in 
multilateral symposiums and consortiums 
designed to offer technical assistance to 
developing countries. The most prominent 
assistance has been in the areas of risk- 
assessment training, biotechnology reg- 
ulatory and technical training, biological 
control workshops, SPS consultancies, and 
funding for foreign officials’ participation in 
international standards-setting meetings. 
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